692 Home Visits

Over the last two days, I had the opportunity to speak with residents from Fiske Hill Road, Apple Hill Road, Old Towne Way, Walker Pond Road, McGilpin Road, Wallace Road, Fairview Park Road and parts of Podunk Road. It was a truly rewarding experience and one that generated some very productive discussions and allowed the opportunity for some brainstorming.

As has been the case thus far, many expressed concerns with our deteriorating tax base and the lack of economic development, which has plagued this community for an extended period. Several ideas were offered in terms of capitalizing on conferences and special events that regularly utilize Sturbridge as their event location.

Specific recommendations in terms of initiating community events in support of the Pan Mass Challenge, such as spaghetti dinners and/or entertainment at OSV, along with discounts and entertainment at area restaurants were also offered by those I spoke with. As well, there were suggestions about initiating community-wide events during some of the larger conferences that regularly utilize local hotels. Clearly, these are ideas worth careful review by the Economic Development Committee, but they are also ideas that necessitate the support, participation, and promotion of our elected leaders.

Successful supportive events designed to capitalize upon opportunities such as the Pan Mass Challenge or conference events, require proactive and participative leadership from elected officials. It necessitates leadership from the front, with elected leaders rolling up their sleeves, getting involved, doing some of the work, while becoming part of the solution. It entails engagement with officials from OSV, local organizations and businesses in a proactive and pragmatic manner. When leaders lead from the front with vision and purpose, people tend to follow when presented with an opportunity for success. To that point, many residents expressed frustration with what they viewed as a long-term lack of real engagement on economic issues and opportunities by our elected leaders.

Surely, no one would argue that the suggestions offered thus far are the "magic bullet" for economic vitality, for such does not exist. They certainly are however, components of a comprehensive approach to a complex problem.

Other residents expressed concerns with what they viewed as a piecemeal approach to budget issues, which they felt did not provide them with the best information for making financial decisions at Town Meetings. Several residents discussed their desire to have more amenities available to Sturbridge residents, while others shared their frustration with what they viewed as deteriorating conditions at the Burgess School, along with the inability for some students to fully access special needs programs. There were also a few residents who conveyed their fear in terms of the landfill expansion in Southbridge and their dissatisfaction with what they viewed as a lack of engagement by Sturbridge officials early on in the process.

Clearly, some of the issues raised by residents fall under the jurisdiction of other entities whose statutory authority is clear and well defined. With that said, it is also recognized that elected representatives are often viewed as the "voice of the people" and the go-to body to air concerns or propose ideas. Thus, a well-engaged and knowledgeable group of elected leaders can provide a great source of facilitation in addressing the challenges, concerns, and hopes of those they represent.

The great experience in undertaking such a comprehensive door-to-door "journey", is the opportunity to speak with individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and motivations. It provides amazing insights into the many aspects that comprise a community and affords one the great gift of learning.

It is one thing for a human being to seek counsel from those one knows and regularly speaks to; it is another and more worthwhile endeavor to seek counsel from those one has never met. It is not lost on this writer, that my "journey" these past 6 days, which has brought me to the doors of 692 Sturbridge residents, has been and continues to be a most enlightening and rewarding opportunity for greater awareness.

Regardless of the outcome on April 13, this is an experience that will last a lifetime and with each passing day, I am ever more grateful that I took that first step. I look forward to the conversations yet to be had.